Article dispensing device with sequentially releasable hinged shelves

ABSTRACT

A shoes receiving box wherein a plurality of shelf plates is disposed with a fixed spacing between the adjacent ones in the vertical direction in the box, and wherein every time a coin is thrown in or a push-button is depressed, bowling shoes, skates or the like respectively placed on the shelves fall down successively from the bottom to be delivered to a taking-out port provided at the lower part of the box.

[ Aug. 14, 1973 United States Patent 1191 Ohno [ ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE WITH 3,556,343 1/1971 Ungerman SEQUENTIALLY RELEASABLE HINGED 2,359,398 10/1944 Thompson et a1. Stair......................................

[76] Inventor:

9 1 Naka Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Kunitachl-shi, Tokyo, Japan liigg waq{ wolfife & kLeitner June 25, 1971 [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT A shoes receiving box wherein a plurality of shelf plates is disposed with a fixed spacing between the adjacent ones in the vertical direction in the box, and wherein every time a coin is thrown in or a push-button is de- [21] Appl. No.: 156,880

[52] US. Cl.

[511 Int.Cl.....:...2:13:22:11:31:11:

[58] Field of pressed, bowling shoes, skates or the like respectively placed on the shelves fall down successively from the bottom to be delivered to a taking-out port provided at the lower part of the box.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 3,137,411 6/1964 Bailey 221/90 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG].

Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,358

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGA. FIG 5.

Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE WITH SEQUENTIALLY RELEASABLE HINGED SI'IELVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a receiving box, particularly a shoes receiving box which is so constructed that received articles such as bowling shoes, skates or the like for lending may be automatically delivered.

Heretofore, such lending shoes have been previously received on shelf plates or shelves, and a lending clerk in charge has personally delivered them to a user in exchange for a fee or a lending card, or the user has directly taken them out of one of the shelf plates to use them. The arrangement of the shoes, however, has tended to become disordered, and in addition, troubles as required for the receipt of the fee or the card, the lending and so on have been extremely vast.

The present invention eliminates the disadvantages as mentioned above, and is so constructed that the lending shoes come out automatically taking-out port provided at the lower part of the receiving box, merely by throwing a coin in or depressing a push-button on the box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to deliver automatically, at each throwing-in of a coin or each depression of a push buttom, received goods such as a pair of lending shoes of a predetermined size on the shelf plates of the receiving box to a taking-out port thereof.

Another object of the invention is to enable the lending shoes or the received goods placed on shelf plates, to be positively send out with a simple mechanism and by turning the shelf plates from the lower part thereof successively.

A further object is to enable saving of the labor force as required for the lending of the received goods such as shoes by adoption of such receiving box.

Other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings represent embodiments of the shoes receiving box according to the present invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shoes receiving box embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment taken along lines II-II and as viewed in the direction of arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the operation, with the essential portions enlarged;

FIG. 4 is a plan view for FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the portions in FIG. 3 under the state in which a magnet is energized;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of another embodiment and for explaining the state under which some shelf plates in the box hang down;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the essential portions of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the relation between an engagng member with a magnet and an engaging plate;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 8, in a further embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view in a still further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, description of embodiments of the present invention will be made hereunder in detail.

Numeral l designates a shoes receiving box, in which a pair of stanchions 2 is provided on both sides with a predetermined spacing therebetween. Between the stanchions 2 and in the vertical direction thereof, a plurality of shelf plates 3 is mounted at substantially equal intervals and horizontally in such a manner that they may turn frontwards about supporting shafts 4, which are disposed near the rear edges of the shelf plates 3. Engageable with the rear edges of the shelf plates 3, are pawls 7 at the upper ends of levers 6 which are so disposed as to be rockable about pivots 5. The shelf plates 3 become horizontal under the state in which the pawls 7 are engaged with the rear edges of the shelf plates 3. The engagement is released by pressing frontwards a lower part 8 of each of the levers 6. Since the front part of the shelf plate 3 is extended longer than the rear part thereof, it turns about the supporting shaft 4 to hang down at the front part and to stand upright at the rear part, as is illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, when a lower shelf plate 3 turns from the horizontal state, its rear part presses the lower part 8 of the upper lever 6 frontwards in the way of the turning, thereby disengaging the pawl 7 of the lever 6. Thus, the shelf plates 3 are respectively held in the horizontal state by the engagement with the pawls 7 of the levers 6, and are disposed such that, upon disengagement of the lowermost shelf plate 3, the engagement is successively released. While in this embodiment the levers 6 are held by a stanchion 9 which is provided sidewards at the rear part of one of the stanchions 2, it is also possible to protrude an arm from the stanchion 2 and to hold the levers 6 by the arm. The lowermost one of the shelf plates 3 does not require the lever 6 to engage therewith.

A turning stanchion 11 is disposed at the back of the shelf plates 3 so as to be tumable about its axis, the turning stanchion being projected from its side with engaging plates 10 which, separate from the levers 6, engage onto the rear edges of the respective shelf plates 3 whereby the respective shelf plates 3 may be horizontally held at the engagement. Accordingly, all the shelf plates 3 except the lowermost one may have their rear edges engaged doubly by the lever pawls 7 and the en-, gaging plates 10, while only the lowermost shelf plate 3 is horizontally held by the engagement with the lowermost engaging plate 10.

An engaging member 12 with a magnet is provided on the side of the turning stanchion 11. Upon energization of a magnet section 13, an engaging member section 14 retreats to draw the engaging plate 10 through a coupling wire 15 as shown in FIG. 5. Hence the tuming stanchion 1 l is turned, so that the respective engaging plates 10 of the turning stanchion 1 l are disengaged from the rear edges of the respective shelf plates 3. Upon deenergization of the magnet section 1-3, the turning stanchion 11 and accordingly the engaging plates projected therefrom return to the original position, respectively, by the restoring force of a coiled spring 16 provided on the other side.

In FIG. 1, numeral 17 designates an opening-andclosure door for the receiving box 1, 18 a lock, 19 a coin throwing-in port, 20 a catching plate or net for received articles, and 21 a taking-out port for the received articles.

When the received goods in the box 1 require preparation of several different sizes of articles as in the case of lending shoes, a plurality of boxes may disposed as shown in FIG. 1 and the respectively different sorts of articles for reception may be received in the series of the boxes.

Next, description will be made of the use of the receiving box according to the present invention.

The respective shelf plats 3 are previously held horizontally by means of the levers 6 and the engaging plates 10 of the turning stanchion 1 1, and lending shoes or the like are placed thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The manget section 13 is energized for a moment by throwing-in of a coin or depression of a push-button. The engaging plates 10 are drawn sidewards to be disengaged from the shelf plates 3, so that only the lowermost shelf plate 3 not engagedly stopped by the pawl 7 of the lever 6 begins to turn. At this time, the magnet section 13 is deenergized, and accordingly, the engaging plates 10 return to the original position, respectively, by the restoring force of the springs 16, to bring the shelf plates 3 but the lowermost one into engagement again. The lowermost shelf plate 3 continues turning, and the rear part thereof pushes out frontwards the lower part 8 of the lever 6 immediately above it in the course of turning, thus releasing the engagement of the pawl 7 of the lever 6.

On the other hand, the received article such as lending shoes placed on the lowermost shelf plate 3 falls down to the lower part of the box 1, and is sent out to the taking-out port 21 through the catching plate or net 20. Herein, the shelf plate 3 located at the second position from the bottom has only the lever 6, having been engaged therewith, released by the turning of the lowermost shelf plate 3, but it is horizontally held by the engaging plate 10. Next, when a coin is thrown in or the push-button is depressed again, the above-described process is repeated whereby only the shelf plate 3 at the second position from the bottom is turned to disengage its upper lever 6. Thereafter, similar processes are successively repeated.

While, in the foregoing, description has been made of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the engagement and disengagement of the shelf plates 3 by means of the levers 6 and the turning stanchion 1 I having the engaging plates 10 in the first embodiment may also be carried out as in the second, third and fourth embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10.

More specifically, numeral 31 designates a receiving box, in which a pair of stanchions 32 is disposed vertically with a fixed spacing therebetween on both sides at the back part thereof. Between the stanchions 32 and in the vertical direction thereof, a plurality of shelf plates 33 is mounted at substantially equal intervals and horizontally so as to be tumable with the axes at their base sides 34.

In the second embodiment, both ends of each turning shaft 35 around which the base side 34 is wound and fixed as shown in FIG. 7 are carried in bearing openings one.

By way of examples only, it may be constructed as illustrated in FIG. 7 such that each engaging member 37 with the magnet is placed and fixed on a supporting bed 39 protruded from a stanchion 38 which is disposed separately from the stanchions 32, and that the front end of an engaging piece 37a of the engaging member 37 is brought into engagement with the front end of an engaging plate 40 protruded from the rotary shaft 35.

As shown in FIG. 9, it is also possible that the engaging member 37 be fixed downwards above that position of the stanchion 32 at which the rotary shaft 35 is mounted, and that the front end of the engaging piece 37a be engaged with the front end of the engaging plate 40 projected upwards from the turning shaft 35.

In addition, it is also possible to bring the front end of the engaging piece 370 into direct engagement with the shelf plate 33. In the case of the embodiment in FIG. 10, the front end of the engaging plate 40 protruded obliquely and upwards from the rotary shaft 35 is caused to mesh with the mounted position of said rotary shaft 35 and with an engaging concave portion 40b in'the underside of a lever 40a which has one end pivotally mounted at the upper part, thereby to hold the shelf plate 33 in the horizontal state. The engaging piece 37a fixed at the front end of the level 40a and hanging down, rises upon energization of the magnet 37b which is inserted through said engaging piece thus to be fixed to the wall section of the box. As a result, the lever 40a is pushed up, and the engagement of the front end of the engaging plate to the engaging concave portion 40b is released, thereby to cause the shelf plate 33 to hang down.

The engaging member 37 with the magnet is constructed such that, upon energization of the magnet 37b, the engaging piece 37a may retreat, and that, upon deenergization of the same, the engaging piece 370 advances again owing to the restoring force of a spring 37c. When the shelf plate 33 is previously held horizontally by the engagment to the corresponding engaging piece 37a and then the magnet 37b is energized, the engaging piece 37a is retracted to release the engagement. Accordingly, the self piate 33 turns about the base side, i.e. the rotary shaft 35 in the embodiment, and hangs down. Upon deenergization ofthe magnet 37b, the engaging piece 370 returns to the original position under the action of the spring 370.

If, herein, the shelf plate 33 is turned upwards about the rotary shaft 35, the front end edge of the engaging plate 40 presses the front end face of the engaging piece 37a in the embodiment. Accordingly, the engaging piece 37a retreats against the pushing bias of the spring 37c.

At the same time that the engaging plate 40 rises above the engaging piece 37a to stop pressing it, said engaging piece 37a returns to the original position by the restoring force of the spring 370. The spring 37c, however, is not necessarily required. In the case of FIG. 9 the engaging piece 37a may also be caused to return by its own wieght, while in the case of FIG. 10 it may be pushed down by its ownweight and the lever 40a. As regards the relation between the vertical spacing in the adjacent base sides 34 and the length of each shelf plate 33, it is suitable that, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower end part of each shelf plate 33 is overlapped on the shelf plate 33 immediately thereunder when the respective shelf plates 33 are brought to the pendent state.

With such construction, the respective shelf plates 33 may be made horizontal through the mere operation of touching the front end of the lowermost shelf plate 33 with a hand and sliding the hand in that condition. More specifically, since the upper shelf plate 33 is overlapped on the lower one at its front end, the front end of the second shelf plate 33 from the bottom slides on the surface of the lowermost shelf plate 33 with the upward turning of said lowermost one. Thus, the secondlowest shelf plate is pushed up along with the turning of the lowermost one. When the lowermost shelf plate 33 is further pushed above the horizontal position, the second-lowest shelf plate 33 is turned still higher. In this manner, the shelf plate at the third position from the bottom is also turned upwards.

When the hand is pushed upwards in that condition, the lowermost shelf plate has the engagement with the hand released and is horizontally held on the engaging piece 37a. As the hand is pushed up in that condition, the shelf plates disengaged from the hand are successively held horizontally in a similar way to the above description. The construction so far explained, is also possible in the first embodiment, and no particular description will be necessary.

Using relays, an electric circuit is formed such that, every time a coin is thrown in or a push-button switch is thrown on, the lowermost magnet 37b supporting the shelf plate 33 is enegized for an instant. Upon the energization, the engaging piece 370 retreats to release the support of the shelf plate 33. Hence, if bowling shoes or the like are previously placed on the respective shelf plates 33, the placed article falls down in the box 31 and may be delivered from a catching plate or net 310 to the outside of a taking-out port 31b.

When the received goods in the box require to prepare several sizes of articles in conformity with the sizes of feet of the users as in the case of lending shoes, a plurality of boxes is provided as shown in FIG. 1 and the respectively different sorts of articles for reception are received in the series of the boxes.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the construction is extremely simple, and therewith, the lending of shoes etc. may be automated thus enabling to save much labors as required for the receipt of charges, the lending and so on.

In the first embodiment, the plurality of shelf plates 3 is engaged such that the horizontal state may be held by means of the levers 6 and the engaging plates 10, and they are so arranged that, at every turning of the turning stanchion 11 having the engaging plates 10, only the shelf plate 3 under the horizontal state at the lowermost position turns. Therefore, one engaging member 12 with the magnet suffices.

Further, the rear part of the lower shelf plate 3 presses frontwards the lower part 8 of its upper lever 6 in the course of its turning, and releases the engagement of said lever. Therefore, the subsequent delivery 6 operation for the received article may be performed simply and rapidly.

In addition, according to the other embodiments, the plurality of shelf plates 33 is tumably provided, while they may be horizontally held by the engaging members 37 each having the magnet, respectively. The articles for lending are previously placed on the upper sides of the shelf plates, the lowermost shelf plate under the horizontal state hangs down as may be needed, and the received article is sent out. Therefore, the articles may be easily taken out, and the labor force may be saved. Further, each engaging piece 37a is reliably retracted by energization of the magnet 37b, to release the engagement with the shelf plate, and the arrangement may be carried out simply and positively, and moreover, quickly.

What is claimed is:

1. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising:

a body having an outlet at its lower part;

a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles;

a plurality of levers, one for each shelf except the bottom shelf plate having an intermediate part pivotally mounted to the interior of said body between said shelf plates;

said levers having a pawl at their upper end for engaging the rear edge of the upper shelf plate and for maintaining said shelf plate horizontal;

said levers being mounted so that the rear edge of the lower shelf plate intersects the lower end of said lever when said shelf plate rotates from the horizontal to the vertical position and disengages said pawl from the rear edge of said upper shelf plate;

a rotary support post with a plurality of engaging plates engageable with the rear part of each shelf plate in the horizontal position; and

a magnetic means connected to said rotary support post and activated by a coin for rotating said support post so that said engaging plates are temporarily disengaged from the rear edge of said shelf plates.

2. An article dispensing device as in claim 1 wherein said shelf plates are pivotally mounted to a pair of vertical supports at a point spaced from said shelfs rear edge.

3. An article dispensing device as in claim 2 wherein said levers being pivotally connected to a third vertical support behind said pair of vertical supports.

4. An article dispensing device as in claim 3 including a spring means mounted to said support post for returning said engaging plates to engage the remaining horizontal shelf plates upon deactivation of said magnetic means.

5. An article dispensing device as in claim 3 wherein said levers being shaped such that their lower ends are horizontal when said pawls, at their upper ends, engage said rearedge of said shelf plates.

6. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising:

a body having an article outlet at its lower part;

a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles;

a plurality of engagement plates, one each mounted perpendicularly to the rear edge of each of said shelf plates;

a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for slidably engaging the face of said engagement plate in a vertical plane when said shelf plate is horizontal;

and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for initially causing said engagement means to engage with said engagement plate and for moving said engagement means to disengage said engagement plate when activated;

said magnetic means being activated in sequence,

starting from the bottom, one for each coin inserted to allow the lowest horizontal shelf plate to rotate to the vertical position.

7. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising:

a body having an article outlet at its lower part;

a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles;

a plurality of engagement plates, one each mounted laterally displaced to said pivotal mounting of each of said shelf plates;

a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for slidably engaging the face of said engagement plate in a horizontal position when said shelf plate is horizontal;

and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for initially causing said engagement means to enengage with said engagement plate and for moving said engagement means to disengage said engagement plate when actia coin to dispense an article comprising:

a body having an article outlet at its lower part;

a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles;

a plurality of engagement plate assemblies, one for each of said shelf plates, including an angular engagement plate laterally displaced on said pivotal mounting at a first end extending upward and a horizontal engagement plate pivotally mounted at a first end to the interior of said body and having an indentation for receiving and holding a second end of said angular engagement plate;

a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for engaging said horizontal engagement plate at its second end;

and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for causing said engagement means to rotate said horizontal engagement plate so as to release said angular engagement plate whereby said shelf plate moves from the horizontal to vertical position, said magnetic means being activated in sequence, starting from the bottom, one for each coin inserted to allow the lowest horizontal shelf plate to rotate to the vertical position. 

1. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising: a body having an outlet at its lower part; a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles; a plurality of levers, one for each shelf except the bottom shelf plate having an intermediate part pivotally mounted to the interior of said body between said shelf plates; said levers having a pawl at their upper end for engaging the rear edge of the upper shelf plate and for maintaining said shelf plate horizontal; said levers being mounted so that the rear edge of the lower shelf plate intersects the lower end of said lever when said shelf plate rotates from the horizontal to the vertical position and disengages said pawl from the rear edge of said upper shelf plate; a rotary support post with a plurality of engaging plates engageable with the rear part of each shelf plate in the horizontal position; and a magnetic means connected to said rotary support post and activated by a coin for rotating said support post so that said engaging plates are temporarily disengaged from the rear edge of said shelf plates.
 2. An article dispensing device as in claim 1 wherein said shelf plates are pivotally mounted to a pair of vertical supports at a point spaced from said shelf''s rear edge.
 3. An article dispEnsing device as in claim 2 wherein said levers being pivotally connected to a third vertical support behind said pair of vertical supports.
 4. An article dispensing device as in claim 3 including a spring means mounted to said support post for returning said engaging plates to engage the remaining horizontal shelf plates upon deactivation of said magnetic means.
 5. An article dispensing device as in claim 3 wherein said levers being shaped such that their lower ends are horizontal when said pawls, at their upper ends, engage said rear edge of said shelf plates.
 6. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising: a body having an article outlet at its lower part; a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles; a plurality of engagement plates, one each mounted perpendicularly to the rear edge of each of said shelf plates; a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for slidably engaging the face of said engagement plate in a vertical plane when said shelf plate is horizontal; and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for initially causing said engagement means to engage with said engagement plate and for moving said engagement means to disengage said engagement plate when activated; said magnetic means being activated in sequence, starting from the bottom, one for each coin inserted to allow the lowest horizontal shelf plate to rotate to the vertical position.
 7. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising: a body having an article outlet at its lower part; a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles; a plurality of engagement plates, one each mounted laterally displaced to said pivotal mounting of each of said shelf plates; a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for slidably engaging the face of said engagement plate in a horizontal position when said shelf plate is horizontal; and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for initially causing said engagement means to enengage with said engagement plate and for moving said engagement means to disengage said engagement plate when activated; said magnetic means being activated in sequence, starting from the bottom, one for each coin inserted to allow the lowest horizontal shelf plate to rotate to the vertical position.
 8. An article dispensing device which is activated by a coin to dispense an article comprising: a body having an article outlet at its lower part; a plurality of shelf plates vertically spaced and pivotally mounted to the interior of said body for receiving said articles; a plurality of engagement plate assemblies, one for each of said shelf plates, including an angular engagement plate laterally displaced on said pivotal mounting at a first end extending upward and a horizontal engagement plate pivotally mounted at a first end to the interior of said body and having an indentation for receiving and holding a second end of said angular engagement plate; a plurality of engagement means mounted to the interior of said body, one for each engagement plate for engaging said horizontal engagement plate at its second end; and a plurality of magnetic means connected, one to each engagement means, for causing said engagement means to rotate said horizontal engagement plate so as to release said angular engagement plate whereby said shelf plate moves from the horizontal to vertical position, said magnetic means being activated in sequence, starting from the bottom, one for each coin inserted to allow the lowest horizontal shelf plate to rotate to the vertical position. 